Advanced Theory Terms

Question 1

____ e/ ed ____

Answer 1

and

Question 2

______ assai

Answer 2

much/ very much (e.g. allegro assai: very fast)

Question 3

a tempo

Answer 3

return to the original tempo

Question 4

accelerando/ accel.

Answer 4

becoming quicker

Question 5

ad libitum/ ad lib.

Answer 5

at the liberty of the performer

Question 6

adagio

Answer 6

a slow tempo (between andante and largo)

Question 7

agitato

Answer 7

agitated

Question 8

alla/ all’ _____

Answer 8

in the manner of [NOUN]

Question 9

allargando/ allarg.

Answer 9

broadening/ becoming slower

Question 10

allegro

Answer 10

fast

Question 11

allegretto

Answer 11

fairly fast (a little slower than allegro

Question 12

andante

Answer 12

moderately slow; at a walking pace

Question 13

andantino

Answer 13

a little faster than andante

Question 14

animato

Answer 14

lively/ animated

Question 15

arco*

Answer 15

for stringed instruments: resume bowing after a pizzicato passage

Question 16

attacca

Answer 16

proceed without a break

Question 17

ben/ bene ______

Answer 17

well (for example/ ben marcato: well marked

Question 18

bewegt

Answer 18

agitated/ excited

Question 19

brillante

Answer 19

brilliant

Question 20

calando

Answer 20

becoming slower and softer

Question 21

cantabile

Answer 21

in a singing style

Question 22

cédez

Answer 22

yield; hold the tempo back

Question 23

cluster [chord]

Answer 23

a chord consisting of a combination of at least three adjacent notes of any scale

Question 24

col/ coll’/ colla/ colle _______

Answer 24

with (for example/ coll’ottava: with an added octave)

Question 25

comodo/ commodo

Answer 25

at a comfortable/ easy tempo

Question 26

con _____

Answer 26

with [NOUN]

Question 27

con brio

Answer 27

with vigor or spirit

Question 28

con espressione

Answer 28

with expression

Question 29

con foco

Answer 29

with fire

Question 30

con grazia

Answer 30

with grace

Question 31

con moto

Answer 31

with movement

Question 32

con pedale/ con ped.

Answer 32

with pedal

Question 33

con sordino

Answer 33

with mute

Question 34

D.C. al Fine

Answer 34

repeat from the beginning and end at Fine

Question 35

da capo/ D.C.

Answer 35

from the beginning

Question 36

dal segno/ D.S. al [fancy S]

Answer 36

from the sign

Question 37

diminuendo/ dim.

Answer 37

becoming softer

Question 38

dolce

Answer 38

sweet

Question 39

espressivo

Answer 39

expression/ with expression

Question 40

fermata

Answer 40

pause; hold note or rest longer than written value

Question 41

fine

Answer 41

the end

Question 42

fortepiano

Answer 42

loud/ then suddenly soft

Question 43

fortissimo

Answer 43

very loud

Question 44

giocoso

Answer 44

humorous/ joyful

Question 45

grandioso

Answer 45

grand/ grandiose

Question 46

grave

Answer 46

slow and solemn

Question 47

grazioso

Answer 47

graceful

Question 48

langsam

Answer 48

slow

Question 49

largamente

Answer 49

broadly

Question 50

larghetto

Answer 50

not as slow as largo

Question 51

largo

Answer 51

very slow and broad

Question 52

legato

Answer 52

smooth

Question 53

léger

Answer 53

light/ lightly

Question 54

leggiero

Answer 54

light/ nimble/ quick

Question 55

lentement

Answer 55

slowly

Question 56

lento

Answer 56

slow

Question 57

l'istesso tempo

Answer 57

the same tempo

Question 58

loco

Answer 58

return to normal register

Question 59

M.M.

Answer 59

metronome marking (Maelzel's Metronome)

Question 60

ma ____

Answer 60

but (for example/ ma non troppo: but not too much)

Question 61

maestoso

Answer 61

majestic

Question 62

mano destra/ M.D.

Answer 62

right hand

Question 63

mano sinistra/ M.S.

Answer 63

left hand

Question 64

marcato/ marc.

Answer 64

marked or stressed

Question 65

martellato

Answer 65

strongly accented/ hammered

Question 66

massig (double dots above the a)

Answer 66

moderate/ moderately

Question 67

meno _____

Answer 67

less _____

Question 68

meno mosso

Answer 68

less movement/ slower

Question 69

mesto

Answer 69

sad/ mournful

Question 70

mit ______

Answer 70

with ______

Question 71

mit Ausdruck

Answer 71

with expression

Question 72

moderato

Answer 72

at a moderate tempo

Question 73

modéré

Answer 73

at a moderate tempo

Question 74

molto ______

Answer 74

much/ very

Question 75

morendo

Answer 75

dying/ fading away

Question 76

mouvement

Answer 76

tempo/ motion

Question 77

non ______

Answer 77

not _______

Question 78

non troppo

Answer 78

not too much

Question 79

ottava/ 8va

Answer 79

the interval of an octave

Question 80

8va-----------/

Answer 80

Play one octave above the written pitch

Question 81

8va-----------'

Answer 81

play one octave below the written pitch

Question 82

pesante

Answer 82

weighty/ with emphasis

Question 83

più

Answer 83

more ______

Question 84

più mosso

Answer 84

more movement/ quicker

Question 85

pizzicato*

Answer 85

for stringed instruments: pluck the string instead of bowing

Question 86

poco

Answer 86

little

Question 87

poco a poco

Answer 87

little by little

Question 88

polychord

Answer 88

combination of two or more different chords

Question 89

prestissimo

Answer 89

as fast as possible

Question 90

presto

Answer 90

very fast

Question 91

prima/ primo

Answer 91

first; the upper part of a duet

Question 92

prima volta

Answer 92

first time

Question 93

quartal chord

Answer 93

chord built on a series of 4ths

Question 94

quasi ______

Answer 94

almost/ as if

Question 95

quindicesima alta/ 15ma

Answer 95

two octaves higher

Question 96

rallentando/ rall.

Answer 96

slowing down

Question 97

risoluto

Answer 97

resolute

Question 98

ritenuto/ riten.

Answer 98

suddenly slower/ held back

Question 99

rubato

Answer 99

a flexible tempo using slight variations of speed to enhance musical expression

Question 100

scherzando

Answer 100

playful

Question 101

schnell

Answer 101

fast

Question 102

seconda/ secondo

Answer 102

second; the lower part of a duet

Question 103

seconda volta

Answer 103

second time

Question 104

sehr _____

Answer 104

very ______

Question 105

semplice

Answer 105

simple

Question 106

sempre

Answer 106

always/ continuously

Question 107

senza

Answer 107

without

Question 108

sforzando (notated like sF or sFz on sheet music)

Answer 108

a sudden strong accent of a single note or chord

Question 109

simile

Answer 109

continue in the same manner as indicated

Question 110

sonore

Answer 110

sonorous

Question 111

sopra

Answer 111

above

Question 112

sostenuto

Answer 112

sustained

Question 113

sotto voce

Answer 113

softly/ subdued/ under the breath

Question 114

spiritoso

Answer 114

spirited

Question 115

stringendo

Answer 115

pressing/ becoming faster

Question 116

subito

Answer 116

suddenly

Question 117

tacet

Answer 117

be silent

Question 118

tranquillo

Answer 118

quiet/ tranquil

Question 119

tre corde

Answer 119

three strings: release the left piano pedal

Question 120

triad

Answer 120

chord consisting of a root/ third/ and fifth

Question 121

troppo

Answer 121

too much

Question 122

tutti

Answer 122

a passage for the entire ensemble

Question 123

una corda

Answer 123

one string: depress the left piano pedal

Question 124

vite

Answer 124

fast

Question 125

vivace

Answer 125

lively/ brisk

Question 126

vivo

Answer 126

lively

Question 127

_____ volta

Answer 127

_____ time

Question 128

volti subito/ v.s.

Answer 128

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